Existential Therapies (Week 4)

Question 1

Ludwig Binswanger
Medard Boss
Rollo May
Victor Frankl

Answer 1

Who are some early existential therapists?

Question 2

James Bugental
Irving Yalom
Kirk Schneider

Answer 2

Who are some contemporary existential therapists?

Question 3

In existential therapy, problems often reflect this.

Answer 3

What is inauthenticity?

Question 4

Death (What will I do with my life?)
freedom (What will I do with my responsibility of choosing?)
isolation (With whom will I engage, how will I engage with them, and why?)
meaninglessness (what meaning will I give to life)

Answer 4

What does existential theory consider the “givens” in life?

Question 5

We are confronted by the freedom and responsibility involved in this. It generates anxiety, which we attempt to avoid by deceiving ourselves and others.

Answer 5

What is making choices?

Question 6

A Greek word meaning “a favorable opportunity”–“a time suitable for a purpose.” These are “critical choice points and momentous opportunities for deciding whether to risk changing a fundamental aspect of existence.”

Answer 6

What is Kairos?

Question 7

“a sign that a person is becoming more aware of choices, freedoms, and responsibilities that are inherent to the human condition; by facing these existential anxieties, a person develops a stronger sense of being”

Answer 7

What is existential angst?

Question 8

a feeling of self-condemnation for choosing against authenticity

Answer 8

What is existential guilt?

Question 9

“With world”–describes world of our existence and how we relate to others. How am I with others? How much satisfaction do my relationships bring?

Answer 9

Mitwelt

Question 10

“Over world”–spiritual self. How am I connecting with things that are beyond me?

Answer 10

Uberwelt

Question 11

“Own world”–our experiences with ourselves. Gets a lot of focus in counseling, perhaps to the neglect of other areas.

Answer 11

Eigenwelt

Question 12

“World around”–our bodies, nature around us. How am I with my lot in life? How am I using senses to interact with the world beyond me?

Answer 12

Umwelt

Question 13

An increased:
-ability to accept and confront the givens of existence with honesty and integrity.
- sense of meaning and purpose.
-sense of self-agency and responsibility.

Answer 13

What represents an increase in authenticity?

Question 14

This is characterized by:

-understanding client’s phenomenological (subjective) world (perspective)

-maintaining an authentic encounter through:
(1) “dasein”–being there; and
(2) “I-Thou” sense of remaining in touch with therapist’s own humanity

-promoting client responsibility and independence

Answer 14

What is the therapeutic relationship in existentialist therapy?

Question 15

An intervention from Existentialist Logo therapy in which therapist helps clients:
1. Identify meaning
2. Clarify meaning
3. Own meaning
4. Act upon meaning

Answer 15

What is promoting “will-to-meaning”?

Question 16

An intervention in Existentialist therapies that focuses on experiencing and exploration in the present moment.

Answer 16

What is the “here-and-now”?

Question 17

Explaining to the client that we have choices, and validating why they are hesitating.

Answer 17

What are “Existential explanations”?

Question 18

Pointing out the ways in which clients are avoiding .

Answer 18

What is “Existential confrontation”?

Question 19

An intervention in Existential therapy. Decreasing stress or worry by encouraging focus on why client/you is/are sharing and what goal of sharing is (rather than over-reflecting on how you are received). Goal is to center yourself.

Answer 19

What is de-reflection?

Question 20

An intervention in Existential therapy. Encouraging client to lean into/cause the very thing that is causing anxiety. The idea is to approach with playfulness and eliminate anticipatory anxiety. Not a first-line intervention.
E.g., stuttering, insomnia

Answer 20

What is paradoxical intention?